Fixture that provides light incorporating a reconfigurable spectrometer

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are examples of spectrometer-equipped devices that provide general illumination supplied by artificial or natural light, and that also detect substances in the environment around the device. In some examples, light may be emitted by a spectrometer light source. The spectrometer detects the light from any of a natural light source, artificial general illumination light or light from the spectrometer light source passed, reflected or shifted and regenerated by substances in the air or on a surface in the vicinity of the device. In response, the spectrometer generates signals representative of the spectral power distribution (e.g. intensities of given wavelengths in the optical spectrum) of the detected light. A controller analyzes the spectrometer generated signals and initiates action based on or outputs a report indicating the environmental condition detected by the spectrometer-equipped device.

BACKGROUND

After the invention of the light bulb, lighting devices have becomeubiquitous in society. Nearly all private and public buildings and/orspaces have some form of a lighting device to provide some form ofgeneral illumination, whether it is to illuminate a room, hallway,street, roadway or the like. The number of lighting devices in the worldnumbers in the billions.

Since lighting devices are located in most populated areas, the lightingdevices have also been used to provide functions besides lighting. Forexample, lighting devices have incorporated sensors such as roomoccupancy sensors that are used to control light, smoke detectors and/orgas detectors, such as sensors of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, orthe like, that are used to alert persons in the vicinity of and/orremote from the lighting device of the presence of smoke and/or aharmful gas. Sensors integrated into lighting devices typically havebeen single purpose devices. For example, to implement occupancysensing, smoked detection and carbon dioxide sensing in one lightingdevice might involve installation of three different types of sensorsfor the different purposes in one lighting device.

One device that may be used to analyze multiple chemicals simultaneouslyis a spectrometer. Spectroscopy is a valuable chemical analysis tool. Aspectrometer is a device that measures the optical spectrum orwavelength(s) of received light. In particular, the optical power ofindividual bands within the electromagnetic spectrum includingultraviolet, visible light, and infrared, both the near-infrared (NIR)and thermal infrared may be measured by a spectrometer. For example,spectrometers measure light reflected from a particular object orpassing through the environment (e.g., air) that has been illuminated bya light source having known parameters or characteristics. The spectraloutput data may be values representing a spectral power distribution ofthe detected light. The spectral output data may be compared to knownspectral values of different compounds, objects or the like to determinecharacteristics of an object reflected, shifted/retransmitted orpassively transmitted by the light from the known light source.Spectrometers typically fall into three wavelength categories: (250-1000nm) that includes Ultraviolet (UV), visible, near infrared (NIR) light;(1000-3000 nm) that includes “mid-wave” light; and (3000-18000 nm) whichincludes thermal infrared. More typical is a filter that detects lightin the wavelength range of 3000-5000 nm or 8000-1200 nm. For example,certain bacteria fluoresce when struck, for example, by ultraviolet orinfrared light, and one or more wavelengths in the spectral powerdistribution of the emitted fluorescent light can be used to determinethe type of bacterial being illuminated.

While cameras typically use red, green, and blue visible light filterswhen producing an image, a spectrometer has a greater spectralresolution than cameras. A spectrometer detects intensity of a greaternumber of different wavelengths or wavelength bands than can bedistinguished via a camera's few visible light filters. A spectrometermay be made using a larger number of narrowband light wavelength filtersover an imaging device. Alternatively, a spectrometer may be made usinga prism or a diffraction grating positioned such that the output of theprism is directed to an imaging device. The imaging device is responsiveto the various wavelengths of light and outputs a signal representativeof the incident intensity of the light of each particular narrowwavelength band. Based on the incident wavelength intensity, a computerprocessor is able to determine a type or even the chemical compositionof an object passing, reflecting or emitting the light in the particularspectral power distribution. Spectrometers may be configured to analyzemultiple chemicals simultaneously.

New spectrometer technology is being drastically reduced in price andsize. Spectrometers previously cost 10s of thousands of dollars and werelarge. The smallest of these spectrometers could only fit on top of adesk. However, in recent years, spectrometers have become small enoughto fit in a person's hand. Less precise than a spectrometer is aspectral sensor that is able to sample a couple, or a few, wavelengths.

While others have suggested the integration of a spectrometer with afixture lens, those suggested integrations had limitations due tospectrometer size and processing power present at the respective lightfixture. As such, only limited functionality was described or suggested.In addition, updating the capability of a spectrometer previously mayhave required replacing the spectrometer, which after being collocatedwith a light fixture presents challenges that were expensive and timeconsuming.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord withthe present teachings, by way of example only, not by way of limitation.In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similarelements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a general example of a system incorporatingconfigurable spectrometers in a variety of artificial lighting anddaylighting type lighting devices.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating details of anartificial lighting example of a device incorporating a spectrometer asdescribed herein.

FIG. 3A illustrates in a functional block diagram an example of alighting device that outputs artificial light and incorporates aspectrometer.

FIG. 3B illustrates in a functional block diagram of another example ofa lighting device that outputs artificial light and incorporates aspectrometer.

FIG. 4 illustrates in a functional block diagram of an example of adevice that provides general illumination and incorporates aspectrometer.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an implementation of a number oflighting devices operating in cooperation with one another to analyzethe common environment in which the number of lighting devices with oneor more spectrometers are located.

FIG. 6 illustrates another example of an implementation of a number oflighting devices with spectrometers operating in cooperation with oneanother.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of an implementation of a lighting devicewith a spectrometer to analyze the air or an object in the environmentin which the lighting device is located.

FIG. 8 illustrates another example of an implementation of a lightingdevice with a spectrometer to analyze the air or an object in theenvironment in which the lighting device is located.

FIG. 9 illustrates another example of an implementation of a lightingdevice with a spectrometer to analyze the air or an object in theenvironment in which the lighting device is located.

FIG. 10 illustrates another example of an implementation of a lightingdevice implemented to analyze ambient Sun light.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth by way of examples in order to provide a thorough understanding ofthe relevant teachings. However, it should be apparent that the presentteachings may be practiced without such details. In other instances,well known methods, procedures, components, and/or circuitry have beendescribed at a relatively high-level, without detail, in order to avoidunnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present teachings.

Hence a need exists for improvement to provide more useful data byupdating the sensor capabilities that cooperate with a lighting devicein order to provide an analysis of the environment in which the lightingdevice is installed.

Disclosed is an example of a lighting device, including a housing, alight source, a spectrometer, a communication interface, a memory, and aprocessor. The light source within the housing is configured to outputartificial light for general illumination. The spectrometer, also withinthe housing, is configured to detect light and generate signalscorresponding intensities of different wavelengths of the detectedlight. The communication interface is coupled to a communicationnetwork. The memory stores spectral reference data and programinstructions for analyzing the spectrometer generated signals. Theprocessor is coupled to the memory, the communication interface, thelight source and the spectrometer, and when executing the stored programinstructions is configured to perform functions. The processor controlsoperation of the light source, analyzes the signals generated by thespectrometer in response to detecting light in relation to the referencedata to detect an environmental condition in the environment in whichthe lighting device is located; and outputs, via the communicationinterface, a report of the detected environmental condition.

Disclosed in yet another example of a device that includes a lightsource, a spectrometer and a processor. The light source is configuredto provide general illumination light. The spectrometer is integratedwithin the device together with the light source. The processor iscoupled to process spectral power distribution measurements from thespectrometer to selectively detect each of a plurality of differentenvironmental conditions.

Spectroscopy is a valuable, adaptable chemical analysis tool. Forexample, a spectrometer can be used to analyze the environment aroundthe spectrometer for multiple chemicals, particulates, contaminants orthe like, either airborne or on a surface, simultaneously. Newspectrometer technology is being drastically reduced in price and size.Structures where lighting products and building management productsreside would benefit from a more comprehensive analysis of theenvironment around them than offered by use of special purpose sensorsin or around the lighting devices. For example, a building high volumeair conditioning (HVAC) control system can take advantage of detectionof humidity (H₂O), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), smoke,natural gas, biological material (e.g., bacteria (Methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA), viruses, blood, or the like), othernoxious gases, solids, liquids or the like to report on sensedconditions and/or to adjust operation of one or more controllablecomponents of the HVAC system. These chemicals, particulates,contaminants or the like, either airborne or on a surface, will bereferred to herein generally as “substances.” The system incorporatingthe spectrometer as described herein can be configured to look for newsubstances by receiving a software or firmware update in order to detectthe new substances. The analysis of chemicals, particulates,contaminants or the like, either airborne or on a surface, by thespectrometer is referred to herein as environmental analysis.Environmental analysis also may involve the collection or detection bythe spectrometer of the substances, the subsequent analysis performed bya processor, and the output of an analysis result.

Other systems that may benefit from environmental analysis by adding aspectrometer and related hardware to a lighting system include communitywater systems to constantly monitor, for example, for lead (Pb) and/orother chemicals, particulates, contaminants.

The examples discussed below relate to incorporating a spectrometer intoa lighting device such as a lighting device and use of the spectrometerfor lighting related operations and/or for other detection functions.

The term “lighting device” as used herein is intended to encompassessentially any type of device that processes generates or supplieslight, for example, for general illumination of a space intended for useof or occupancy or observation, typically by a living organism that cantake advantage of or be affected in some desired manner by the lightemitted from the device. However, a lighting device may provide lightfor use by automated equipment, such as sensors/monitors, robots, etc.that may occupy or observe the illuminated space, instead of or inaddition to light provided for an organism. However, it is also possiblethat one or more lighting devices in or on a particular premises haveother lighting purposes, such as signage for an entrance or to indicatean exit. In most examples, the lighting device(s) illuminate a space orarea of a premises to a level useful for a human in or passing throughthe space, e.g. general illumination of a room or corridor in a buildingor of an outdoor space such as a street, sidewalk, parking lot orperformance venue, and serve to provide components usable in identifyingchemical composition, biological materials and/or environmentalmaterials in the environment in which the lighting device is located.The actual source of light in or supplying the light for a lightingdevice may be any type of light emitting, collecting or directingarrangement. The term “lighting device” encompasses passive lightingdevices that collect and supply natural light as well as artificiallighting devices that include a source for generating light.

The term “passive lighting” as used herein is intended to encompassessentially any type of illumination that a device supplies withoutconsuming power to generate the light. A passive lighting device, forexample, may take the form of a daylighting device that suppliesdaylight that the device obtains outside a structure to the interior ofthe structure, e.g. to provide desired illumination of the interiorspace within the structure with otherwise natural light. As anotherexample, a passive lighting device may include a phosphor or otherwavelength conversion material, to enhance the light in a desired mannerwithout consuming electrical power.

The term “artificial lighting” as used herein is intended to encompassessentially any type of lighting that a device produces light byprocessing of electrical power to generate the light. An artificiallighting device, for example, may take the form of a lamp, lightfixture, or other luminaire that incorporates a light source, where thelight source by itself contains no intelligence or communicationcapability, such as one or more LEDs or the like, or a lamp (e.g.“regular light bulbs”) of any suitable type.

The term “coupled” as used herein refers to any logical, physical orelectrical connection, link or the like by which signals, data,instructions or the like produced by one system element are imparted toanother “coupled” element. Unless described otherwise, coupled elementsor devices are not necessarily directly connected to one another and maybe separated by intermediate components, elements or communication mediathat may modify, manipulate or carry the signals. For example, systemelements may be coupled for wired or wireless communication.

Reference is now made in detail to the examples illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and discussed below.

The example of FIG. 1 illustrates a system 10 for communicating with alighting device 11 (labeled “LD” in FIG. 1) incorporating a spectrometeras a reconfigurable sensing element, e.g. based on a user selectionand/or a software update. For example, elements of the lighting devicemay be “reconfigurable” e.g. to compare output results from thespectrometer to different references to identify different substances.The lighting devices 11A and 11B are equipped with a spectrometer thatis a reconfigurable sensing element, as well as some other elements ofsystem 10, are installed within a space or area 13 to be illuminatedand/or subject to analysis by the spectrometer 12 at a premises 15. Thepremises 15 may be any location or locations serviced for lighting andother purposes by such system of the type described herein. Most of theexamples discussed below focus on building installations, although theexamples of FIGS. 7-10 illustrate systems that have been adapted tooutdoor lighting and environmental analysis. Hence, the example ofsystem 10 may provide lighting, environmental analysis and possiblyother services in a number of service areas in or associated with abuilding, such as various rooms, hallways, corridors or storage areas ofa building (e.g., home, hospital, office building, schools, and anoutdoor area associated with a building. Any building forming or at thepremises, for example, may be an individual or multi-resident dwellingor may provide space for one or more enterprises and/or any combinationof residential and enterprise facilities.

The space or area 13 of premises 15 may also be illuminated by naturallight that enters through windows 54 and skylight 55. The skylight 55may be in the form of a spectrometer-equipped device that is installedin the roof of premises, such as 15, to illuminate an area or space,such as 13, and that is equipped with a spectrometer. The spectrometer12 with a controller 16 may be coupled to the skylight 55. Similarly,the window 54 and spectrometer 12 may be configured such that the window54 is equipped with the spectrometer 12. In such a configuration, thewindow 54 may also be a spectrometer-equipped device. The controller 16may include a processor and memory, examples of which are explained inmore detail with reference to the elements of controller 204 of FIG. 2.The controller 16 may use the spectrometer 12 to perform anenvironmental analysis of air and surfaces based on the natural lightpassing through the skylight 55. For example, the natural light mayilluminate the air or a surface in the vicinity of the skylight 55 andthe spectrometer 12 may detect reflected or incident light, outputsignals representative of an overall optical power intensity as well asoptical power distribution of the detected light. The controller 16analyzes the signals generated by the spectrometer in response todetecting light in relation to reference data, for example, for controlpurposes, for communications regarding detection results, etc.

The system elements, in a system like system 10 of FIG. 1, may includeany number of lighting devices 11A or 11B equipped with a spectrometerthat operates as a reconfigurable sensor as well as one or more lightingcontrollers 19. Lighting controller 19 may be configured to providecontrol of lighting related operations (e.g., ON/OFF, intensity,brightness, image control signals and general illumination controlsignals) of lighting devices 11A and 11B. Alternatively, or in addition,lighting controller 19 may be configured to provide control of thespectrometer aspects of lighting devices 11A and 11B, as described ingreater detail below. That is, lighting controller 19 may take the formof a processor, such as a switch, a dimmer, or a smart control panelincluding a user interface depending on the functions to be controlledthrough device 19. The lighting controller 19 may send commands to thelighting device 11A or 11B that are executed by processing elements(described in more detail with reference to other examples below)present in the lighting devices 11A and 11B. The lighting systemelements may also include one or more spectrometers 12 used to controllighting functions, such as occupancy sensors, ambient light sensors andlight, temperature sensors or environmental analysis within the thatdetect conditions of or produced by one or more of the lighting devices.The spectrometer 12 may be implemented in intelligent standalone systemelements, or the spectrometer 12 may be incorporated in one of the othersystem elements, such as lighting devices 11A and 11B and lightingcontroller 19.

The on-premises system elements 11A, 11B, 12, 19, in a system likesystem 10 of FIG. 1, are coupled to and communicate via a data network17 at the premises 15. The data network 17 in the example also includesa wireless access point (WAP) 21 to support communications of wirelessequipment at the premises. For example, the WAP 21 and network 17 mayenable a user terminal for a user to control operations of lightingdevices 11A and 11B. Such a user terminal is depicted in FIG. 1, forexample, as a mobile device 25 within premises 15, although anyappropriate user terminal may be utilized. However, the ability tocontrol operations of lighting devices 11A and 11B may not be limited toa user terminal accessing data network 17 via WAP 21 within premises 15.Alternatively, or in addition, a user terminal such as laptop 27 locatedoutside premises 15, for example, may provide the ability to controloperations of lighting devices 11A and 11B via one or more othernetworks 23 and the on-premises network 17. Network(s) 23 includes, forexample, a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN),a wide area network (WAN) or some other private or public network, suchas the Internet.

For lighting operations, the system elements for a given service areasuch as devices 11, spectrometers 12 and/or controller(s) 19 are coupledtogether for network communication with each other through datacommunication media to form a portion of a physical data communicationnetwork. Similar elements in other service areas of the premises arecoupled together for network communication with each other through datacommunication media to form one or more other portions of the physicaldata communication network at the premises 15. The various portions ofthe network in the service areas in turn are coupled together to form adata communication network at the premises, for example to form a LAN orthe like, as generally represented by network 17 in FIG. 1. Such datacommunication media may be wired and/or wireless, e.g. cable or fiberEthernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular short range mesh. In manyinstallations, there may be one overall data communication network 17 atthe premises. However, for larger premises and/or premises that mayactually encompass somewhat separate physical locations, thepremises-wide network 17 may actually be built of somewhat separate butinterconnected physical networks utilizing similar or different datacommunication media.

System 10 in the example also includes server 29 and database 31accessible to a processor of server 29. Although FIG. 1 depicts server29 as located outside premises 15 and accessible via network(s) 23, thisis only for simplicity and no such requirement exists. Similarly,although FIG. 1 depicts database 31 as physically proximate server 29,this is only for simplicity and no such requirement exists. Instead,database 31 may be located physically disparate or otherwise separatedfrom server 29 and logically accessible by server 29, for example vianetwork 17.

Database 31 may be a collection of spectral reference data files for usein conjunction with the reconfigurable sensor that includes aspectrometer 12. For example, each spectral reference data file withindatabase 31 includes reference data related to one or a combination ofvarious different substances, such as different types of chemicals,biological materials, particulates and contaminants, such as smoke,carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, MRSA, natural gas, or the like. Thereference data may include optical power intensity values for differentwavelengths or narrow wavelength bands of visible, and infrared lightthat are used by the processor 214 when executing program instructionsstored in the memory 216 and/or 218 to detect the presence of one ormore substances depending upon the reference spectral power distributiondata included in the spectral reference data file. In one example, aselected spectral reference data file from among the collection ofspectral reference data files is loaded into a memory of thespectrometer-equipped lighting devices 11A and 11B, and thespectrometer-equipped lighting devices 11A and 11B are configured todetect and output a detection result in accordance with the referencedata included in the selected spectral reference data file. That is, theselected spectral reference data file enables lighting devices 11A and11B to be reconfigured to detect a specific list of chemicals,particulates, contaminants or the like for environmental analysis.

In the example, both devices 11A and 11B stored the same reference datafile to their respective memories (not shown). It should be appreciated,however, that different lighting devices may store different referencedata files to selectively configure the respective spectrometers 12 todetect different substances. For example, lighting device 11A may beconfigured to detect the presence of smoke, which lighting device 11Bmay be configured to detect carbon monoxide.

It should also be noted that, while various examples describe loading asingle spectral reference data file into the respective memories oflighting devices 11A and 11B, this is only for simplicity, lightingdevices 11A and 11B may receive one, two or more spectral reference datafiles and each received file may be stored within lighting devices 11Aand 11B. In such a situation, lighting devices 11A and 11B may, atvarious times, operate in accordance with spectral reference data in anyone of multiple files, e.g. operate in accordance with first spectralreference data during daylight hours and in accordance with secondspectral reference data during nighttime hours or in accordance withdifferent file selections from a user operator at different times, andthe like. Alternatively, lighting devices 11A and 11B may only store asingle spectral reference data file.

The lighting devices 11A and 11B may have different configurations, andmay be implemented using different and/or similar components. Forexample, a device, such 11A, may be installed within a ceiling plane 24of an area or space 13. The lighting device 11A may protrude into theceiling plenum 18 of the area or space 13, while the light outputsurface (not shown in this example) from the lighting device 11A may besubstantially coplanar with the ceiling plane 24. The device 11A isshown with a spectrometer 12 that detects light in the space 13 belowthe ceiling plane 24. In an optional configuration, the device 11B maybe configured with another spectrometer 12 in the ceiling plenum 18along with optional optics 14. In yet another option, only onespectrometer 12 may be used either in the ceiling plenum 18 or below theceiling plane 24 in the space 13. As will be described in examples ofFIGS. 5 and 6, the devices 11A and 11B may cooperate with one another todetect substances in the environment, such as the ceiling plenum 18,below the ceiling plane 24 in the space 13, or both. The ceiling plenum18 is bounded by ceiling plane 24 and the bottom of the floor or roof ofthe space 13. In this case, the portion of the ceiling plenum 18 betweenrespective devices 11A and 11B is considered a measurement volume.

To fully appreciate the present concepts, it may be useful to discussexamples of a spectrometer-equipped lighting device in somewhat moredetail. Hence, the following discussion provides examples ofconfigurations for implementing a spectrometer-equipped lighting devicein the system 10 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating details of a deviceincorporating a spectrometer as described herein. An example of a device102 is shown in FIG. 2 where the device 102 includes a housing 103, alight source 208, a spectrometer 220, a controller 204, a wirelesstransceiver 206, and a wired network terminal 207. The communicationinterface 212 is coupled to a data communication network via either thewireless transceiver 206, the wired network terminal 207, or both. Thecontroller 204 has an internal processor configured as a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 214, a memory 216, a non-volatile memory 218 and acommunication interface. The memory 216 or 218 stores spectral referencedata and program instructions for analyzing the spectrometer 220generated signals. The processor 214 is coupled to the memory, thecommunication interface, the light source 208 and the spectrometer 220.The processor 214, when executing the stored program instructions isconfigured to perform various functions related to the analysis ofsignals generated by the spectrometer (described in more detail below.)The processor 214 and associated memories 216 and 218 in the example ofthe device 102 are components of the controller 204, which is amicrochip device that incorporates the CPU as well as one or morememories. The controller 204 may be thought of as a small computer orcomputer-like device formed on a single chip. Alternatively, theprocessor 214 and memory 216 or 218 may be implemented as separatecomponents, e.g. by a microprocessor, ROM, RAM, flash memory, etc. Thehousing 103 may serve to protect the components of the device 102 fromthe dust, dirt, water (e.g. rain) or the like in the location in whichthe device is installed.

Also included in the example device 102 is a power distribution unit 202receiving power from an external alternating current (AC) power source235. The power distribution unit 202 is configured to distributeelectrical power to the various components within the device 102. Forexample, the light source 208 is an artificial light generation deviceconfigured to generate illumination upon consumption of electrical powerfrom a power source, such as 235.

This example of the device 102 includes the capabilities to communicateover two different radio frequency (RF) bands, although the conceptsdiscussed herein are applicable to control devices that communicate withluminaires and other system elements via a single RF band. Hence, in theexample, the device 102 includes a transceiver 206, which may beconfigured for sending/receiving control signals, and/or forsending/receiving pairing and commissioning messages. For example, thetransceiver 206 may be one or more transceivers configured as a 900 MHztransceiver for such an implementation a variety of controls aretransmitted over the 900 MHz control band of the wireless controlnetwork 5, including, for example, turn lights on/off, dim up/down, setscene (e.g., a predetermined light setting), and sensor trip events.Alternatively, the transceiver 206 may be configured as a 2.4 GHztransceiver for Bluetooth low energy (BLE) that carries various messagesrelated to commissioning and maintenance of a wireless lighting system.The wireless transceiver 206 coupled to the communication interface 212and to a wireless network, such as 23 or 17 via the wireless accesspoint 21 of FIG. 1. The wireless transceiver 206 is, for example,configured to transmit the detection signals output by the processor 214to a device, such as such as devices 25, 29 and/or 27 of FIG. 1,external to the environment in which the lighting device 102 is located.

In the example of FIG. 2, device 102 is shown as having one processor214, for convenience. In some instances, such a lighting device may havemultiple processors. For example, a particular device configuration mayutilize a multi-core processor architecture. Also, some of the othercomponents, such as the communications interfaces, may themselvesinclude processors.

In general, the controller 204 of the device 102 controls the variouscomponents of the device 102 and devices, such as the light source 208and spectrometer 220, connected to the controller 204. For example,controller 204 may control RF transceivers 206 to communicate with otherRF devices (e.g. wall switches, sensors, commissioning device, etc.). Inaddition, the controller 204 controls the light source 208 to turnON/OFF automatically, or at the request of a user. In addition,controller 204 controls other aspects of operation of the light source208, such as light output intensity level, or the like.

The controller 204 also controls the spectrometer 220, and if lightingdevice 102 is so equipped, the spectrometer light source 224 and/orspectrometer optics 225. For example, the controller 204 may perform thegeneral functions of turning the spectrometer ON or OFF, receiving datafrom the spectrometer 220, and the like. In addition, the controller 204may turn the spectrometer light 224 ON or OFF at the same time that thespectrometer 220 is turned ON or OFF. Alternatively, the spectrometer220 and spectrometer light 224 may remain ON continuously sinceelectrical power is received from electrical AC mains, such as AC powersupply 235 in which case, power conservation may not be a designconsideration.

The device 102 may receive a spectral reference data file via thecommunication interface, wherein the spectral reference data file. Forexample, the spectral reference data includes a number of referencespectral power distributions of which each reference spectral powerdistribution uniquely identifies a substance, such as a chemicalcomposition, a biological material, or an environmental material. Forexample, each of the chemical compositions, biological materials andenvironmental materials may have a unique identifier associated with it.An “identifier” may be a code or series of values that corresponds to adifferent substance (chemical composition, biological material orenvironmental condition, such as the presence of smoke, or the like).For example, the spectral reference data may include the identifier,related to one or more of bacteria, viruses, explosives or chemicalcomponents thereof, smoke, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, natural gas,or the like, that corresponds to one or more of the signals generated bythe spectrometer as well as other information such as values thatindicate harmful levels of the substance, substance names or the like.The received spectral reference data file is stored in the memory 216 or218. The memory 216 or 218 in addition to the spectral reference datamay also store program instructions for analyzing the spectrometer 220generated signals.

In a further example of the operation of the example of FIG. 2, theprocessor 210 receives via the communication interface 212 updatedspectral reference data. The updated spectral reference data may includeupdated reference spectral power distributions uniquely identifying achemical composition, a biological material, or an environmentalmaterial (or condition) for comparison to the spectral powerdistributions output by the spectrometer 220. Alternatively or inaddition, the updated spectral reference data changes from previouslystored spectral reference data, one or more of a number of the referencespectral power distributions uniquely identifying a different chemicalcomposition, a different biological material, or a differentenvironmental material. Alternatively or in addition, the updatedspectral reference data may change one or more of the number of thechemical composition identifier, the biological material identifier, orthe environmental material identifier stored in the memory 216 and/or218.

The processor 214 is configured to communicate the spectral powerdistribution measurements or information, such as an identifierassociates with identified chemical compositions, biological materialsabout environmental conditions detected by the spectrometer 220 over anetwork via the communication interface 212. For example, the processor214 receives a signal generated by the spectrometer 220. The processor214 of the controller 204 may access the stored data file in the memory216 and/or 218, and analyzes the received signal with respect to thespectral reference data stored in the memory 216 and/or 218 to determinea chemical composition of the air in a measurement volume (explained inmore detail with reference to the examples of FIGS. 3A-10). For example,the spectral reference data stored in the memory may be a data filecontaining data directed to a particular substance having a specificchemical composition identifiable from the spectrometer generatedsignal.

Returning to the example, an identifier in the spectral reference datafile for one composition might be, for example, CO₂ and that identifierwould correspond to the reference data with the spectral powerdistribution typically associated with CO₂ in the air. The processor214, during the analysis, compares signals received from thespectrometer 220 having a measured spectral power distribution toreference spectral power distributions in memory; and if there is amatch, the processor 214 uses the corresponding composition identifier,such as CO₂, for event reporting or control operations. Based on resultsof the analysis of the stored data file and signals generated by thespectrometer 220, may determine the presence of an environmentalcondition in the environment in which the device 102 is located. Inresponse to the detected environmental condition, the controller 204 mayoutput a report of the detected environmental condition. A report, forexample, may be a list of values that correspond to an identifier of thedetected substance. Or, the report may have one or more identifiersassociated with one or more of a bacteria, a virus, smoke, carbonmonoxide, carbon dioxide, natural gas, or the like. The list is notexhaustive but it is envisioned that the list of identifiers may includeall substances detectable by the spectrometer 220. Alternatively, thereport may simply list chemicals, contaminants or whatever substance thespectral reference data includes reference data to detect along with thespecific substance that was detected, such as smoke or CO.Alternatively, the report may output detected values. For example, thedata in the report, such as values, may be converted by the processor214 to some meaningful scale, such as Parts Per Million (PPM) or thelike, and the associated substance, e.g. smoke 100 PPM, CO 10 PPM, orthe like. In yet another alternative, the report may be control signalsthat cause the lighting device to perform certain functions, such as,for example, the processor 214 may adjust a light output intensity ofthe light source 208 in response to a predetermined output report.

The device 102 may couple to a network, such as network 17 or 23 of FIG.1, thought communication interface 212 which is connected for wiredcommunication through the network terminal 207 or connected to wirelesstransceiver 206 for wireless communication. For example, the controller204 may receive via the communication interface 212 an spectralreference data file that updates the spectral reference data 219currently stored in the non-volatile memory 218. More specifically, thedevice 102 equipped with the spectrometer 220 may be configured todetect smoke, in the case of fire, according to the spectral referencedata 219 stored in the memory 218. The updated spectral reference data(not shown) may, for example, update the smoke reference data by alsoincluding carbon monoxide (CO) reference data in spectral reference datafile. After the update of the spectral reference data, thespectrometer-equipped device 102 is able to output a detection resultindicating that smoke and/or CO are present in the environment in thevicinity of the lighting device 102. Of course, more or less referencedata may be included in the spectral reference data (SRD) file. Forexample, if the spectrometer-equipped device 102 is located in ahospital, the SRD file may contain reference data for smoke, CO, oxygengas (O₂), MRSA, or other staph infections, blood or the like.

Other examples of configurations of devices and the control functionsperformed by a controller, such as 210, with respect to other examplesof the spectrometer 220, spectrometer light source 224 and/orspectrometer optics 225 are explained in more detail below withreference to the examples of FIGS. 3A-10.

FIG. 3A illustrates in a general functional block diagram of an exampleof a lighting device that outputs artificial light incorporating aspectrometer as described herein. The lighting device 301 includes ahousing 305, a controller 310, spectrometer 320, light source 330 and ameasurement volume 340.

The spectrometer 320 is integrated within the device 301 via the housing305 together with the light source 330. The spectrometer 320 isconfigured to detect light and generate signals correspondingintensities of different wavelengths of the detected light. Thecontroller 310 includes a processor coupled to the spectrometer 320 toprocess spectral power distribution measurements from the spectrometer330 to selectively detect each of a plurality of different environmentalconditions.

The housing 305 of the lighting device 301 may also optionally include aspectrometer light 335. In configurations without the spectrometer light335, the light source 330 is configured to output light as generalillumination light. General illumination light may be considered aslight suitable for a user to perform a task, such as read a book, or tobe able to identify objects within a room or space. General illuminationmay also be defined as a specific type of lighting suitable for aparticular purpose, such as ultraviolet light, a grow light for plants,a specific spectral characteristic, such as color, wavelength, intensityor the like, of lighting specific to the area. For example, the lightingdevice 301 may be located in a zoological installation that provideslighting that mimics lighting conditions in a native habitat of ananimal residing in the zoological installation.

The lighting device 301 may also include a light output surface 333. Thelight output surface 333 may, for example, be a diffuser that dispersesthe light passing through the measurement volume 340 and out of thelighting device 301.

The measurement volume 340 is a space encompassing at least a portion ofa medium, such as air, another gas, or a liquid, from the environment inwhich the lighting device 301 is located; and the spectrometer 320 isconfigured to receive light from substances within the medium in themeasurement volume 340. More particularly, the measurement volume 340 isan illuminated three-dimensional (3D) space from which the spectrometer320 detects spectral power distribution of light within the 3D space.The boundaries of the measurement volume 340 may be set either byphysical structures such as those shown in other examples of FIGS. 3A-6,or by the extent to which a beam of light in free space is detectable bythe spectrometer 320 (such as the beams of light reflected or outputfrom an object and received by the spectrometer) as shown in theexamples of FIGS. 7-10. For example, a beam of light fills a volume ofspace, which may be the measurement volume. Alternatively, themeasurement volume could have one or more physical boundaries defined bythe space encompassing the medium.

The housing 305 provides protection from the environment to the othercomponents of the lighting device. For example, the housing keeps awaydust, dirt, moisture and the like. In addition, the housing 305 securesthe other components of the lighting device 300 in place and also mayprovide connection points or the like for installing the lighting devicein a particular location.

The controller 301 may be configured as shown in the example of FIG. 2,but for ease of discussion and explanation not all of the details of thecontroller 102 of FIG. 2 are repeated in the following discussion ofFIGS. 3A and 3B.

In the general example of FIG. 3A, the controller 310 is coupled tospectrometer 320 and the light source 330. The light source 330 is anartificial light generation device configured to generate illuminationupon consumption of electrical power that is distinct from natural lightprovided by a skylight or other daylighting device, such as 55 ofFIG. 1. The controller 31 may also be connected to an external network,such as network 17 of FIG. 1, via network connection 303. The controller31 may receive spectral reference data and/or other data, and alsooutput a report of the detected environmental condition via networkconnection 303. For example, the controller 310 provides control signalsto the spectrometer 320 and light source 330.

Optionally or in addition, the lighting device 301 may also include aspectrometer light 335. The spectrometer light source 335 is configuredto illuminate the spectrometer through the measurement volume andoutputs light having specific characteristics (e.g., infrared light,specific bandwidth light, such as only red or black light) as comparedto the light output by the light source 330, which has to output lightsuitable for general illumination as explained above. Said differently,the spectrometer light source 335 emits light having known lightemission characteristics that are detectable by the spectrometer 320. Ininstances when the lighting device is configured with only the lightsource 330, the light source 330 is configured to output light into themeasurement volume 340 and output as general illumination light.

Whether or not the lighting device 301 includes the optionalspectrometer light source 335, light is emitted into the measurementvolume 340 for analyzing the spectral characteristics of any substancesin the air of the measurement volume 340. The measurement volume 340contains air from the environment, such as a room, parking garage,hospital foyer, ceiling plenum, or the like, in which the lightingdevice 301 is located. Any airborne substances present in themeasurement volume air when illuminated with the light from thespectrometer light source 335 or light from the light source 330 mayreflect or pass light that is detected by the spectrometer 320. Inresponse to the detected light, the spectrometer 320 generates signalsrepresentative of the optical power intensity of the detected light. Asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 2, the controller 310 includes amemory, such as 216 and 218 and a processor 214. The controller 310controls operation of the light source 330. The controller 310 alsoanalyzes the signals generated by the spectrometer 320 in response todetecting light in relation to reference data stored in the memory todetect an environmental condition in the environment in which thelighting device 301 is located. For example, the controller 310 analyzesthe received signal with respect to the spectral reference data todetermine a chemical composition of the air in the measurement volume;Based on the analysis, the controller may detect an environmentalcondition in the environment in which the device is located. In responseto the detected environmental condition, the controller 16 may beconfigured to output via the communication interface 303 a report of thedetected environmental condition.

The lighting device 301A may also include a light output surface 333.The light output surface 333 may, for example, be a diffuser thatdisperses the light passing through the measurement volume 340A and outof the lighting device 301A.

Alternatively or in addition, the controller 310 in response to theoutput of the report of the detected environmental condition may beconfigured to perform, according to program instructions, a controlfunction related to controlling the light source 330. The controller310, or more specifically, the processor, such as 214 of FIG. 2, may, inresponse to a predetermined output report, adjust an output of the lightsource. For example, the controller 310 may be configured to react toanalysis of signals generated by the spectrometer 320 in comparison toreference data that indicates the presence of an airborne bacteria. Inwhich example, the controller 310 in response to the analysis indicatingthe presence of a particular substance, such as bacteria, suppliescontrol signals to the light source 330 causing the light source 330,for example, to flash or blink.

In the example of FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4, the measurement volume is a spacein close proximity to the lighting device, and filled with air from theenvironment in which the lighting device is located. For example, in theexamples of FIGS. 3A-4, the measurement volume is between thespectrometer 320 and the light source 330 or the optional spectrometerlight source 335.

FIG. 3B illustrates in a functional block diagram of another example ofa lighting device that outputs artificial light incorporating aspectrometer as described herein. The lighting device 301A of FIG. 3B issimilar to that of FIG. 3A. For example, the light source 330 isDifferent from the lighting device 301 of FIG. 3A, the lighting device301A of FIG. 3B includes a fan 350 positioned to enable transfer airbetween the spectrometer and the spectrometer light source. The fan 350is configured to move the medium, in this case, air, from theenvironment in which the lighting device is located through themeasurement volume 340. Due to the addition of the fan or blower 350,the housing 305A, the controller 310A and the measurement volume 340Amay have different configurations and additional functions from thesimilar components shown in FIG. 3A.

For example, the housing 305A is configured to accommodate the additionof the fan 350. The measurement volume 340A may include additionalstructure such as duct work, to receive air from the fan 350. As aresult of the addition of the fan 350, the controller 310A is coupled tothe fan 350, and outputs control signals to the fan 350 to cause the fan350 to transfer air in the measurement volume 340A. A benefit of the fan350 is that it provides a transfer of a greater volume of air throughthe measurement volume 340A and as a result a greater probability ofdetecting substances in the air in the environment in which the lightingdevice is located. Otherwise, the functions of the spectrometer 330,optional spectrometer light source 335, light source 330 as well as thecontroller 310A are substantially the same as those described withreference to FIGS. 3A and 2 above. For example, the light source 330and/or spectrometer light 335 control, spectrometer 320 control and theanalysis of the spectrometer 320 output by the controller 310A in FIG.3B are the same as that in described above with reference to FIGS. 3Aand 2 above.

In an additional example, the measurement volume 340A may be filled witha gas or particulate medium. In a still further example the measurementvolume 340A may extend to or encompass a surface treatment, such aslitmus paper, in addition to air or liquid; and the surface treatmentfunctions as a form of catalyst or as a reaction agent for analysis ofthe medium for a particular substance. For example, the spectrometer 320may detect a change in spectral characteristics of the surface treatmentas the surface treatment reacts to a substance in the air in themeasurement volume 340A.

In the example of FIG. 1, a device was described with respect toskylight 55. Such a device may not include a light source or aspectrometer light source that provides artificial light because naturallight is provided through the skylight 55. The skylight 55 may also be atype of daylighting device, such as a light tube, that receives naturallight from an exterior of a premises and delivers light to the interiorspace of the premises as general illumination light or as additionallighting for the interior space.

FIG. 4 illustrates in a functional block diagram of an example of adevice that provides general illumination using natural lightincorporating a spectrometer as described herein. The device 401includes a controller 410, a spectrometer 420 and a measurement volume440. The measurement volume 440 may have a light input surface 443opposite a light output surface 445. The measurement volume 440 receivesnatural light through the light input surface 443, and outputs lightinto an environment, such as an area or space, such as 13. The lightinput surface 443 may be a lens that directs natural light from outsidethe device 401 incident on the light input surface 443 into themeasurement volume. Conversely, the light output surface 445 may be adiffuser that disperses the natural light passing through themeasurement volume 440 and out of the light output surface 445. Thedevice 401 may optionally include a spectrometer optic 460 coupled tothe spectrometer 420. The spectrometer optic 460 is configured todisperse light incident on the optic evenly toward the spectrometer 420thereby enabling the natural light to fill the field of view of thespectrometer 420. For example, the spectrometer optic 460 may be a lenshaving a shape, such as convex, concave or prismatic, or be a series oflenses that directs the natural light toward the spectrometer 420 sothat the spectrometer 420 receives enough light to output detectionsignals suitable for analysis by the controller 410.

Similar to the functions performed by the controller, the spectrometerand a measurement volume of FIGS. 1-3B as described above, thecontroller 410, the spectrometer 420 and a measurement volume 440perform similar functions and output similar results. A reader shouldrefer to the above descriptions of these elements for details of thesimilar function as such details will not be repeated for ease ofdiscussion.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an implementation of a number oflighting devices shown in functional block diagrams operating incooperation with one another to analyze the common environment in whichthe number of lighting devices are located as described herein.

The system 500 of a first lighting device 501 and a second lightingdevice 502 operate in cooperation with one another to provide ananalysis of the common environment in the vicinity of the lightingdevices 501 and 502. The lighting devices 501 and 502 are located in theceiling plane 580 in order to provide general illumination lighting tothe interior space below the ceiling plane 580. In the example of FIG.5, the system 500 is configured to analyze the environmental conditionsof a ceiling plenum, and may be coupled to external devices via acommunication network, such as 17 or 23 of FIG. 1, for example. Thelighting devices 501 and 502 are similarly configured, and as a result,reference to the environmental analysis will be made with reference tolighting device 501, but a similar discussion may be applicable tolighting device 502. In the example of FIG. 5, the lighting device 501includes a controller 510, a spectrometer 520 with a spectrometer lightsource (labeled “sp. lt. source”) 535, a light source 530 and coupled tothe spectrometer 520 is optics 560. Similarly, the lighting device 502includes a controller 512, a spectrometer 522 with a spectrometer lightsource 537, a light source 532 and coupled to the spectrometer 522 isoptics 562.

The alignment of the respective lighting devices 501 and 502 is suchthat light emitted by the respective spectrometer light sources 535 and537 is directed toward the respective spectrometer 522 (and/or optic562) and spectrometer 520 (and/or optic 562). For example, when present,the spectrometer optics 560 and 562 are configured to direct light froma spectrometer light source either 535 or 537 in the ceiling plenumtoward the opposite spectrometer 522 or 520, respectively, fordetection. Similar to the controller 204 in lighting device 102 of FIG.2, the controller 510 of lighting device 501 is coupled to the lightsource 530, the spectrometer 520 and the spectrometer light source 535.The controller 510 controls the respective components in a mannersimilar to that described with reference to FIG. 2. However, since thedevices 501 and 502 operate in cooperation with one another, there aredifferences that may be best explained with reference to an example.

In an example, the controllers 510 and 512 may be configured tocommunicate with one another via a wired or wireless communication link,such as through a wireless transceiver or the like. For example, thecontrollers 510 and 512 may coordinate the ON/OFF times of therespective spectrometer lights 535 and 537.

The spectrometer light sources 535 and 537 may be configured to outputlight having known spectral characteristics. The known spectralcharacteristics may be the same for each of spectrometer light sources535 and 537. For example, both spectrometer light sources 535 and 537may output light in a narrow wavelength of visible light, or infraredlight. Alternatively, spectrometer light source 535 may output light inthe visible wavelengths, while spectrometer light source 537 may outputlight in a portion of the infrared wavelengths. By having spectrometerlight sources in the devices 501 and 502 emit light of differentwavelengths, the system 500 is able to detect the presence of a greaternumber of substances in the air and/or surfaces of the ceiling plenum581. The ceiling plenum 581 is bounded by ceiling plane 580 and thebottom of the floor or roof of the space in which the devices 501 and502 are located. In this case, the portion of the ceiling plenum 581between respective devices 501 and 502 is considered a measurementvolume.

In addition, the devices 501 and 502 may cooperate to calibrate theirrespective spectrometers 520 and 522 and/or their respectivespectrometer light sources 535 and 537. For example, since thecharacteristics of the light emitted by the respective spectrometerlight sources 535 and 537 are known, the respective controllers 510 and512 may use signals received from their respective spectrometers 520 and522 to calibrate their respective spectrometers by noting differencesfrom the known characteristics of the light emitted from the respectivespectrometer light sources 535 and 537. Alternatively or in addition,the respective devices 501 and 502 may exchange data related to thereceived light to enable calibration of the respective spectrometerlight source 535 or 537 and/or the respective spectrometers 520 or 522.

The controller 510 may be configured to control the spectrometer lightsource 535 to output light through the spectrometer optics 560 and intothe ceiling plenum (i.e., the space above the ceiling plane 580). Thespectrometer 522 of the second lighting device 502 is aligned to receivethe light output by the spectrometer light source 535 of the firstlighting device 501. The spectrometer 522 of the lighting device 502 maybe configured to detect light emitted by the spectrometer light source535. For example, the spectrometer 522 may include specific spectralfilters corresponding to the wavelengths of the light emitted by thespectrometer light source 535. The spectrometer 522 of device 502detects the light emitted by the spectrometer light source 535. Inresponse the detected light, the spectrometer 522 generates signals inmanner similar to that as described above with reference to the exampleof FIG. 2, that are provided to controller 512. Similar to thecontroller 204 of FIG. 2, a processor in controller 512 generates areport based on an analysis of the signals generated by the spectrometer522. The controller 512 may output the report to an external devicecoupled to a communication network for evaluation and/or other actions.

The controller 512 of device 502 may be configured to cause thespectrometer light source 537 to emit light that is output toward thespectrometer 520. As mentioned above, the spectrometer light source 537may output light in a different wavelength than spectrometer lightsource 535. Since the lighting devices 501 and 502 are cooperating aspart of system 500, the spectrometer 520 may detect the light emitted bythe spectrometer light source 537, and generate detection signals asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 2. As such, the controller 510may perform an analysis of the generated detection signals and provide areport. The report may be transmitted to an external device on acommunication network. Alternatively, the respective controllers 510 and512 may be configured to output their respective detection reports toone another. In response to the detection report indicating an unsafeenvironmental condition, e.g., smoke or unsafe levels of CO, thecontroller detecting the unsafe environmental condition may transmit thedetection report or an indication of the unsafe condition to the othercontroller. As a result of the shared unsafe environmental condition,both controllers 510 and 512 may output control signals to theirrespective light sources 530 and 532 causing the respective lightsources to emit flashes of light or blinking that indicates theexistence of an unsafe environmental condition to occupants of theinterior space 582.

FIG. 6 illustrates another example of an implementation of a number oflighting devices operating in cooperation with one another as describedherein. The system 600 includes devices 601 and 602 operate incooperation with one another to detect an environmental condition withrespect to the occupiable space 682. Device 601 includes controller 610,spectrometer 620, light source 630, spectrometer light source 635 andoptics 660. Similarly, the device 602 includes controller 612spectrometer 622, light source 632, spectrometer light source 637 andoptics 662 As shown, the system 600 example of FIG. 6 is similar to theexample of FIG. 5 except instead of detecting the environmentalcondition of the ceiling plenum, the example of FIG. 6 detects theenvironmental condition of the interior space in the vicinity of thefirst device 601 and second device 602.

In the example of FIG. 6, the devices 601 and 602 are substantiallysimilar to those of FIG. 5 except the respective spectrometer optic 660and 662 that is coupled to the respective spectrometer 620 and 622passes through the ceiling plane 680 into the occupiable space 682 inthe vicinity of the environment in which the respective devices 601 and602 are located.

The respective controllers 610 and 612 operate in a manner similar tothe other controllers described in the prior examples of FIG. 5. Forexample, the respective controllers 610 In the example of FIG. 6, thespectrometer optic 660 is configured to receive spectrometer light fromthe spectrometer light 637 of device 602 and to direct light from thespectrometer light 635 toward the spectrometer optic 662 within theoccupied space 682. Similarly, the spectrometer optic 662 is configuredto receive spectrometer light from the spectrometer light 635 of device601 and to direct light from the spectrometer light 637 toward thespectrometer optic 660.

Other examples of a single device operating within an environment arealso envisioned. For example, the examples of FIGS. 7-10 may be locatedin hospitals, food service areas, parking garages, residential areas orthe like.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of an implementation of a lighting deviceimplemented to analyze the air or an object in the environment in whichthe lighting device is located as described herein. The example of FIG.7 provides a device envisioned to be mountable in nearly any location,indoors or outdoors, that would benefit from environmental conditionanalysis. In the illustrated configuration, the lighting device 701includes a housing 705, a controller 710, a spectrometer 720, a lightsource 730, a spectrometer light source 735, spectrometer optic 760 anda reflector/object 770. The controller 710 may be configuredsubstantially as described above with reference to FIG. 2. As such, thecontroller 710 is coupled to the spectrometer 720, the light source 730,the spectrometer light source 735, and a communication network, such as17 or 23 of FIG. 1.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, the lighting device 701 is positionednear the ceiling plane 780 with the housing 705 above the ceiling planewith substantial portion of the device 701 being located in the ceilingplenum 781. When in such a configuration, the spectrometer optic 760passes through the ceiling plane 780 into the interior space 782 so thatlight reflected from the reflector/object 770 is captured by thespectrometer optic 760 and directed toward the spectrometer 720. Inaddition, the spectrometer optic 760 is also configured to direct lightoutput from the spectrometer light source 735 toward a reflector/object770 located in the occupiable space 782.

Reflector/object 770 may be a reflective surface positioned in theenvironment in which the device is located to enable detection of anenvironmental condition in the air in the vicinity of the device 700.The reflector 770 may be positioned such that the light output by thespectrometer light source 735 may be aimed in the direction of thereflector 770. In addition, the reflector 770 may be configured toreflect light substantially in the direction of the spectrometer 720and/spectrometer optic 760. For example, the reflector 770 may be in anoccupiable space of the environment in which the device is installed,and positioned on a wall or other surface such that incident light fromthe spectrometer light is directed toward the spectrometer 720and/spectrometer optic 760. Alternatively, the reflector/object 770 maybe an object, such as a food preparation area or surface, a hospitalhallway, hospital room, a school locker room, office space or the like,and be located positioned such that the light output by the spectrometerlight source 735 may be aimed in the direction of the object 770.

In general, the controller 710 controls the light source 730, thespectrometer 720 and the spectrometer light source 735. In the exampleof FIG. 7, since the spectrometer 720 and spectrometer light source 735share the optic 760, the controller 710 may be configured to alternatelyoutput control signals causing the spectrometer light source 735 to emitlight through the optic 760 and output other control signals to thespectrometer 720 to receive reflected light. The detection and analysisfunctions of the controller 710 are performed similar to the detectionand analysis functions of controller 204 described above with referenceto FIG. 2. In addition, the controller 710 performs an analysis of thedetection signals generated by the spectrometer 720, and outputs areport in a manner similar to the same functions performed by thecontroller 204. Based on the results of the analysis, the controller 710may send a report to another device and/or to a remote device coupled toa communication network.

FIG. 8 illustrates another example of an implementation of a lightingdevice implemented to analyze the air or an object in the environment inwhich the lighting device is located as described herein. In theillustrated configuration, the device 801 includes a housing 805, acontroller 810, a spectrometer 820, a light source 830, a spectrometerlight source 835, and spectrometer optic 860. A reflector/object 870 ispresent to provide reflected light. While only one reflector/object 870is shown it should be understood that a number of reflector/objects 870may be present in the area 882 for environmental condition analysis. Thecontroller 810 may be configured substantially as described above withreference to FIG. 2. As such, the controller 810 is coupled to thespectrometer 820, the light source 830, the spectrometer light source835, and a communication network, such as 17 or 23 of FIG. 1.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the device 801 may include a housing 805that is configured to be mounted or connected to a surface, such as awall, a post, a ceiling or the like, that is referred to as the mountingplane 890. When in such a configuration, the spectrometer optic 860protrudes into the area 882 so that light reflected from thereflector/object 870 is captured by the spectrometer optic 860 anddirected toward the spectrometer 820.

The reflector/object 870 may be a surface. In particular, thespectrometer optic 860 is configured to direct light reflected from asurface 870, such as a food preparation station in a restaurant, adesktop, a sampling surface, or the like, toward the spectrometer 820.The surface 870 may be in an area 882 of the environment in which thedevice 801 is installed. In addition, the spectrometer optic 860 is alsoconfigured to direct light output from the spectrometer light source 835toward the object 870 located in the area 882.

In an additional example, the reflector/object 870 may be a reactivesurface treatment, such as litmus paper, that functions as a form ofcatalyst or as a reaction agent for analysis of a gas or liquid mediumfor a particular substance. For example, the spectrometer 820 may detecta change in spectral characteristics of the surface treatment as thesurface treatment reacts to a substance in the medium encompassed by themeasurement volume.

The operation of the device 801 and the functions performed by therespective components of the device 801 operate in the same manner asthe operations and functions described above with respect to FIGS. 2 and7 above.

FIG. 9 illustrates another example of an implementation of a lightingdevice implemented to analyze the air or an object in the environment inwhich the lighting device is located as described herein.

In the illustrated configuration, the device 901 includes a housing 905,a controller 910, a spectrometer 920, a light source 930, andspectrometer optic 960. A mobile light source 870 is present to providelight for use in the environmental analysis. While only one mobile lightsource 970 is shown it should be understood that a number of mobilelight sources may be present in the area 992 for environmental conditionanalysis. For example, the device 901 may be located in a long tunnelused by automobiles and may analyze the environment to detect COemissions or the like. The controller 910 may be configuredsubstantially as described above with reference to FIG. 2. As such, thecontroller 910 is coupled to the spectrometer 920, the light source 930and a communication network, such as 17 or 23 of FIG. 1.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, the device 901 may include a housing 905that is configured to be mounted or connected to a surface, such as awall, a post, a ceiling or the like, that is referred to as the mountingplane 990. When in such a configuration, the spectrometer optic 960protrudes into the area 992 so that light output from the mobile lightsource 970 is captured by the spectrometer optic 960 and directed towardthe spectrometer 920.

In particular, the spectrometer optic 960 is configured to direct lightreflected from the mobile light source 970, toward the spectrometer 920.The mobile light source 970 may be an object with a light source thattravels, such as an automobile, a truck, a railcar, a conveyor basket,amusement park ride, a gurney with a light source or retro-reflector, orthe like. A retro-reflector is a type of reflector, such as anautomobile headlight or bicycle reflector, having a specializedconfiguration that reflects light in a given direction, typicallyoutward with a narrow beam shape. The mobile light source 970 may travelthrough the area 992 of the environment in which the device 901 isinstalled. The operation of the device 901 and the functions performedby the respective components of the device 901 operate in the samemanner as the operations and functions described above with respect toFIGS. 2 and 7 above.

FIG. 10 illustrates another example of an implementation of a lightingdevice implemented to analyze ambient Sun light as described herein.

In the illustrated configuration, the device 1001 includes a housing1005, a controller 1010, a spectrometer 1020, a light source 1030 andspectrometer optic 1060. The controller 810 may be configuredsubstantially as described above with reference to FIG. 2. As such, thecontroller 1010 is coupled to the spectrometer 1020, the light source1030, and a communication network, such as 17 or 23 of FIG. 1.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the device 1001 may include a housing1005 that is configured to be mounted or connected to a surface, such asa wall, a post, a ceiling or the like, that is referred to as themounting plane 1090. When in such a configuration, the spectrometeroptic 1060 captures ambient sun light in the area 1002 and directs thecaptured ambient sun light toward the spectrometer 1020.

In particular, the spectrometer optic 1060 is configured to directambient sunlight 1000 from the area 1002 in which the device 1001 isinstalled toward the spectrometer 1020.

The operation of the device 1001 and the functions performed by therespective components of the device 1001 operate in the same manner asthe operations and functions described above with respect to FIGS. 2 and9 above.

The lighting device 1001 may be used in a number of different scenarios.For example, the lighting device 1001 may be used to detect the airquality of a particular area 1002, such as an area adjacent to a nuclearpower plant, an industrial site, playground, a school yard or the like.Alternatively, the lighting device 1001 may be used in an area near acattle or poultry farm to detect methane emissions, or a well drillingsite to detect gas emissions from or around the well.

Aspects of methods of detecting spectral illumination data and analyzingthe spectral illumination data by the devices described in FIGS. 1-10outlined above may be embodied in programming, e.g. in the form ofsoftware, firmware, or microcode executable by a portable handhelddevice, a user computer system, a server computer or other programmabledevice. Program aspects of the technology may be thought of as“products” or “articles of manufacture” typically in the form ofexecutable code and/or associated data that is carried on or embodied ina type of machine readable medium. “Storage” type media include any orall of the tangible memory of the computers, processors or the like, orassociated modules thereof, such as various semiconductor memories, tapedrives, disk drives and the like, which may provide non-transitorystorage at any time for the software programming. All or portions of thesoftware may at times be communicated through the Internet or variousother telecommunication networks. Such communications, for example, mayenable loading of the software from one computer or processor intoanother, for example, from a management server or host computer intoplatform such as one of the controllers of FIGS. 2-10. Thus, anothertype of media that may bear the software elements includes optical,electrical and electromagnetic waves, such as used across physicalinterfaces between local devices, through wired and optical landlinenetworks and over various air-links. The physical elements that carrysuch waves, such as wired or wireless links, optical links or the like,also may be considered as media bearing the software. As used herein,unless restricted to one or more of “non-transitory,” “tangible” or“storage” media, terms such as computer or machine “readable medium”refer to any medium that participates in providing instructions to aprocessor for execution.

Hence, a machine readable medium may take many forms, including but notlimited to, a tangible or non-transitory storage medium, a carrier wavemedium or physical transmission medium. Non-volatile storage mediainclude, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as any of thestorage hardware in any computer(s), portable user devices or the like,such as may be used to implement the server computer 29, the personalcomputer 27, the mobile device 25 or controllers 102, 204, etc. shown inthe drawings. Volatile storage media include dynamic memory, such asmain memory of such a computer or other hardware platform. Tangibletransmission media include coaxial cables; copper wire and fiber optics,including the wires that comprise a bus within a computer system.Carrier-wave transmission media can take the form of electric orelectromagnetic signals, or acoustic or light waves such as thosegenerated during radio frequency (RF) and light-based datacommunications. Common forms of computer-readable media thereforeinclude for example: a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetictape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD or DVD-ROM, any otheroptical medium, punch cards paper tape, any other physical storagemedium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM,any other memory chip or cartridge (the preceding computer-readablemedia being “non-transitory” and “tangible” storage media), a carrierwave transporting data or instructions, cables or links transportingsuch a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer can readprogramming code and/or data. Many of these forms of computer readablemedia may be involved in carrying data and/or one or more sequences ofone or more instructions to a processor for execution.

Program instructions may comprise a software or firmware implementationencoded in any desired language. Programming instructions, when embodiedin a machine readable medium accessible to a processor of a computersystem or device, render a computer system or a device into aspecial-purpose machine that is customized to perform the operationsspecified in the program instructions.

Unless otherwise stated, any and all measurements, values, ratings,positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are setforth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, areapproximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable rangethat is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with whatis customary in the art to which they pertain.

The scope of protection is limited solely by the claims that now follow.That scope is intended and should be interpreted to be as broad as isconsistent with the ordinary meaning of the language that is used in theclaims when interpreted in light of this specification and theprosecution history that follows and to encompass all structural andfunctional equivalents. Notwithstanding, none of the claims are intendedto embrace subject matter that fails to satisfy the requirement ofSections 101, 102, or 103 of the Patent Act, nor should they beinterpreted in such a way. Any unintended embracement of such subjectmatter is hereby disclaimed.

Except as stated immediately above, nothing that has been stated orillustrated is intended or should be interpreted to cause a dedicationof any component, step, feature, object, benefit, advantage, orequivalent to the public, regardless of whether it is or is not recitedin the claims.

It will be understood that the terms and expressions used herein havethe ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions withrespect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and studyexcept where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be usedsolely to distinguish one entity or action from another withoutnecessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or orderbetween such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,”or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusiveinclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus thatcomprises a list of elements does not include only those elements butmay include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to suchprocess, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by “a” or“an” does not, without further constraints, preclude the existence ofadditional identical elements in the process, method, article, orapparatus that comprises the element.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than allfeatures of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims arehereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

1. A lighting device, comprising: a housing; a light source within thehousing configured to output artificial light for general illumination;a spectrometer, within the housing, configured to detect light andgenerate signals corresponding to intensities of different wavelengthsof the detected light; a communication interface coupled to a datacommunication network; a memory storing spectral reference data andprogram instructions for analyzing the spectrometer generated signals;and a processor coupled to the memory, the communication interface, thelight source and the spectrometer, wherein the processor, when executingthe stored program instructions is configured to perform functions,including functions to: control operation of the light source; analyzethe signals generated by the spectrometer in response to detecting lightin relation to the reference data to detect an environmental conditionin an environment in which the lighting device is located; and output,via the communication interface, a report of the detected environmentalcondition.
 2. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the spectralreference data includes a reference spectral power distribution uniquelyidentifying a chemical composition, a biological material, or anenvironmental material, for comparison to one or more of the signalsgenerated by the spectrometer.
 3. The lighting device of claim 2,wherein the processor is further configured to: receive via thecommunication interface updated spectral reference data, wherein theupdated spectral reference data changes one or more of a number of thereference spectral power distributions uniquely identifying a differentchemical composition, a different biological material, or a differentenvironmental material.
 4. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein theprocessor is further configured to perform a function, the functionincluding: in response to a predetermined output report, adjust anoutput of the light source.
 5. The lighting device of claim 1, whereinthe spectral reference data stored in the memory is a data filecontaining data directed to a particular substance having a specificchemical composition, a specific biological material, or a specificenvironmental material identifiable from the spectrometer generatedsignals, wherein the data includes an identifier corresponding to thespecific chemical composition, the biological material or theenvironmental material.
 6. The lighting device of claim 5, wherein theprocessor is further configured to perform a function, including thefunction of: receive an spectral reference data file via thecommunication interface, wherein the spectral reference data fileincludes spectral power distribution data related to one or moresubstances present in the environment; store the received data file inthe memory; access the stored data file in the memory, and based on ananalysis of the signals generated by the spectrometer in relation to thespectral power distribution of the stored data file, output one or moreidentifiers associated with one or more substances.
 7. The lightingdevice of claim 5, wherein when executing the function to analyze thereceived signals includes a function to: compare the signals generatedby the spectrometer to the spectral power distribution data in thespectral reference data stored in the memory; and based on the resultsof the comparison, identify one or more of identifiers in the spectralreference data that correspond to the spectrometer generated signal. 8.The lighting device of claim 1, further comprising: a measurementvolume, wherein the measurement volume is a space filled with air fromthe environment in which the lighting device is located inside thelighting device.
 9. The lighting device of claim 8, wherein thespectrometer is configured to receive light reflected from substanceswithin the measurement volume.
 10. The lighting device of claim 8,wherein the measurement volume is between the spectrometer and thespectrometer light source.
 11. The lighting device of claim 8, furthercomprising: a spectrometer light source having known light emissioncharacteristics that emits light detectable by the spectrometer, thespectrometer light source being configured to transmit light to thespectrometer through the measurement volume.
 12. The lighting device ofclaim 8, further comprising: a fan positioned to enable transfer airbetween the spectrometer and the spectrometer light source, wherein thefan is configured to: move air from the environment in which thelighting device is located through the measurement volume.
 13. Thelighting device of claim 1, further comprising: a wireless transceivercoupled to the communication interface and to a wireless network,wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to: transmit the reportof the detected environmental condition output by the processor to adevice external to the environment in which the lighting device islocated.
 14. The lighting device of claim 1, further comprising: aspectrometer optic coupled to the spectrometer, wherein the spectrometeroptic are configured to evenly disperse light incident on the optictoward the spectrometer.
 15. The lighting device of claim 14, whereinthe spectrometer optic is further configured to: pass through a ceilingplane into an occupiable space in the vicinity of the environment inwhich the device is installed.
 16. The lighting device of claim 14,wherein the spectrometer optic is further configured to: direct lightfrom a ceiling plenum in the vicinity of the environment in which thedevice is installed toward the spectrometer.
 17. The lighting device ofclaim 14, wherein the spectrometer optic is further configured to:direct light reflected from a surface toward the spectrometer, whereinthe surface is in an occupiable space of the environment in which thedevice is installed.
 18. The lighting device of claim 14, wherein thespectrometer optic is further configured to: direct light reflected froma reflector toward the spectrometer, wherein the reflector is in anoccupiable space of the environment in which the device is installed.19. The lighting device of claim 14, wherein the spectrometer optic isfurther configured to: direct light from a mobile light source towardthe spectrometer, wherein the mobile light source is moving through theenvironment in which the device is installed.
 20. The lighting device ofclaim 14, wherein the spectrometer optic is further configured to:direct ambient sunlight from the environment in which the device isinstalled toward the spectrometer.
 21. A lighting device, comprising: alight output surface configured to transmit light out of the lightingdevice to provide general illumination light; a spectrometer integratedwithin the device together with the light output surface; and aprocessor coupled to process spectral power distribution measurementsfrom the spectrometer to selectively detect a plurality of differentenvironmental conditions.
 22. The lighting device of claim 21, furthercomprising: a network communication interface coupled to the processor,wherein the processor is further configured to communicate the spectralpower distribution measurements or information about the detectedenvironmental conditions over a network via the communication interface.23. The lighting device of claim 21, further comprising: a light sourceconfigured to generate illumination upon consumption of electricalpower, and the spectrometer is integrated within the device togetherwith the artificial light generation device.
 24. The lighting device ofclaim 21, further comprising: a light input surface configured toreceive natural light from outside the lighting device; a light outputsurface configured output the natural light as general illumination; andthe spectrometer is integrated within the device between the light inputsurface and the light output surface.
 25. A system comprising: a firstlighting device comprising: a spectrometer light source integratedwithin the device together with the light output surface; and aprocessor coupled to output control signals to the spectrometer lightsource causing the spectrometer light source to output light in apredetermined direction; and a second lighting device, comprising: aspectrometer integrated within the device; and a processor coupled toprocess spectral power distribution measurements from the spectrometerto selectively detect a plurality of different environmental conditions,wherein the spectrometer of the second lighting device is aligned toreceive the light output by the spectrometer light source of the firstlighting device; and, wherein the first lighting device and the secondlighting device: are aligned such that light emitted by the spectrometerlight source of the first lighting device is directed toward thespectrometer of the second lighting device, and operate in cooperationwith one another to provide an analysis of an environment common to thefirst and second lighting devices.
 26. The system of claim 25, wherein:the first lighting device further comprises a spectrometer opticconfigured to direct light from the spectrometer light source toward thesecond lighting device for detection; and the second lighting devicefurther comprises a spectrometer optic configured to direct thespectrometer light toward the spectrometer for detection.
 27. The systemof claim 26, wherein the spectrometer optics of the first and the secondlighting devices are located in a ceiling plenum.
 28. The system ofclaim 26, wherein: the spectrometer optics of the first lighting devicepass through a ceiling plane at which the respective lighting devicesare located to direct spectrometer light toward the second lightingdevice for detection; and the spectrometer optics of the second lightingdevices pass through the ceiling plane to direct the light from thespectrometer light output from the first lighting device to thespectrometer of the second lighting device.